Tim: I think the fans have been great. I've gotten alot of E-Mail, as I'm sure Victor and Lee have from people I don't know, and I think it's great. As far as the media coverage goes, it's been good but I want more.

It took some time to bring the album out due to a label change fill us in on that process and how pleased are you with Southern Lords promotion so far?

Victor: We already had the album recorded when Man's Ruin folded. With Guy Pinhas' blessing to shop it around, we eventually hooked up with Greg Anderson and Southernlord. From what I've seen so far, Southernlord seems to be doing about as good a job as I would expect for an independent label. We have Earsplit PR doing promo and setting up interviews and I've seen several full page ads for Southernlord releases.

The title of the album Nailed,does it have any significant meaning to it? 

Victor: We thought it was a very descriptive title for the front cover art. The significance would be that all of mankind is guilty of driving the nails for that crucifixion.

The production is tight dynamic and the mix have a heavy emotional intense catchy groove, after have played the album a number of times I feel that there is a quite a experimental attitude running through the record looking back at the studio process fill us in on the studio time you and how pleased are you with the outcome of the album?

Victor: I'm very pleased with the outcome. We spent roughly a hundred hours in Lakeside Studios with Travis Wyrick here in Knoxville. It was one of the best studio experiences I've ever had. I can't recall ever being able to nail down tones as fast anywhere I've ever recorded. I experimented a bit with a few different amp set-ups. I ended up using two amps at once while miking them thru different channels. For one channel I used a Fender Pro Sonic and the other was a Sovtek MIG100. For the vocals I experimented a little as well. On "Return" I used a "dirt mic" to get that AM radio sound in the verses and the voice-over in the middle.

I also feel that there is these impressive dark moods on the album doomy and atmospheric at the same time, after have heard your previous material these moods have always been there, are they something that is natural from your background as musicians or is it something that you have created during the early Place Of Skulls rehearsals ?

Victor: It's really something that seems to come natural. The best way.

More on the production did you made the album live or did you made tracking?

Victor: We initially recorded everything live to get Tim's drum tracks. Once we had those, Lee and I went back and completely tracked everything else.

Looking at the musical and lyrical direction on Nailed, how pleased are you with the tracklist on the album and the visual standpoint ?

Tim: I think Victor came up with the right tracklist, and I'm very happy with it. As far as the visual standpoint, I think the message and the picture on the album cover are self explanatory.

Victor: The musical direction is a very natural element for me. It's basically the only way I feel comfortable writing. The lyrics are definitely heading in a new direction. Much more positive than anything I've done before. I think the lyrics, the sound, and the visuals fit together nicely.

More on the lyrical side of the album what is the main lyrical subjects that are included on Nailed ?

Victor: Many of the lyrics are very personal to me. Dealing with depression, anger, and learning to be a better person. Not thru any strength of my own, but thru God's strength. I've struggled for many years with my natural and self imposed corruption, but I think I'm slowly making progress towards the more positive and spiritual side. To me, the lyrics on "Nailed" have much to do with that.

The vocals on Nailed is your most awesome performance so far, to me it its sounding more Griffin than Griffin himself do you feel you have found the right key in your progression as a singer and do you feel that the voice is more established compare to before?

Victor: Yeah, I'm really starting to develope my style as a singer. I can hear it and feel it alot at rehearsal. I'm looking forward to our next release, I think by then, I will have found a definite groove for myself.

The guitarwork and the backing are also a very impressive performance, talking about the guitarwork on Nailed to compare with previous Place Of Skulls recordings and past Deathrow /Pentagram recordings do you feel that the guitarwork here on Nailed are your best work to date?

Victor: I don't know about that. Technically, I've always liked my performance on Pentagram "Be Forewarned". But that album is a little over produced I think and much of my lead work sounds buried. On this album, I really wanted to get back to a more basic and raw sound but still with a good production. I think we did that. Compared to other recordings I've been on, I'd say this is one of, if not my best.

Since Place Of Skulls formed you've played quite a few shows so far how is the live show progressing and has it been any best / worst gigs that you have made so far ?

Lee: Too many outstanding shows to pick from, most memorable are Stoner Hands of Doom, not only playing our show but getting to see so many other really good bands. Same goes for Doomsday 2001 in Baltimore. Velvet Lounge in DC is always a great show along with Little Rock. Worst was the first at the Side Bar in Baltimore and our "hometown" Knoxville, TN , music scene there is stuck in the 80's and hell bent on as little talent as possible.

Speaking of Place Of Skulls concept as a band do you have any specific concept what major strength do you feel Place Of Skulls have ?

Tim: Being a three piece band, there's a lot of freedom, a lot of areas in the songs that aren't crammed together. Victor has room to explore with his vocals as well as his guitar solos. As for Lee and I, we just try to keep the bottom from falling out, and if you like a big wall of sound coming at you, then we're your band.

Looking at the cover artwork I have only seen it on the web since I only got a promo but can you fill us in what the picture represents and where did you find it and how pleased are you with the outcome of the artwork?

Victor: To me the front cover art represents the death and darkness which we initially imposed, and continue to impose upon Jesus Christ. We crucify Him every day that we deny Him. The cover is actually a few different images that I layered together on my computer. I love the way it turned out. Very dark and moody. Stephen O'Malley did all the inside and back artwork.

As bonus you have made a fantastic cover of The Animals 60s hit single Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood, are you pleased with the outcome of that version and how did it end up on Nailed?

Victor: Yeah, it came out pretty good. It's a song I've thought about covering for a long time. While writing material for "Nailed", I heard it on the radio one day...decided to see what we could do with it and that's what we came up with.

For those that havent heard Nailed yet how would you review the album ?

Lee: HEAVY biting undertones, with DEEP penatrating lyrics, "Fun for the whole family!!"

Tim: As Lee said...fun for the whole family.

Looking at the response on both sides of the Atlantic, how has the reactions been so far is it any differences in the response to Place Of Skulls from the US to the European fans judging from the following and the fanbase that you have got so far ?

Victor: The response has been overwhelmingly positive all around so far. From the US and Europe alike. We've gotten a few bad reviews from some black metal zines but that's no big deal.

As a trio do you feel you have more musical freedom compare to if you were a 4 or a 5 piece?

Lee: Where it's easier as a three piece (or should be) to get the songs & show tight, there is less freedom for the sake of keeping the fullness of the music.

A while ago I heard that you Tim, had a stint as the drummer in Molly Hatchet. If those rumours are right how long were you with them and did you make any recordings with them ?

Tim: I'm going to put this to rest right now. It was just a couple of jams. I wasn't asked to join the band, there were no contracts signed or even dicussed. I never made any recordings with the band. It was a couple of jams in some bars, that's all it was.

Lee: I really don't like to talk about it...... (are you happy now?- yes, I am- Ed)

Finally after the release of the album what is going on in the Place Of Skulls camp at the moment are you planning a tour, the next album any eps compilation tributes etc what is going to happen in the next one two years do you have something settled. Fill us in.

Victor: We're getting ready for a tour right now with Spirit Caravan which begins on April 17. When we return from that, we'll be working on new material for our next album, to be recorded in September. We have a 4-song EP that's already recorded...I'd like to see that released this summer. We'll be doing some one-off shows throughout the year but no other tour plans are definite at the moment.

Thank you very very much for the interview, Nailed is already on my Top 10 list of best 2002 albums. I hope you will come over to europe now when Nailed is out. Thanks again for a great album.

Victor: Your very welcome Gabriel, and thank you. We hope to see you in Europe sometime this year as well.

By Gabriel Lilliehook

Review of Nailed at hem.passagen.se/lillie/rec16.html

Order Nailed at www.southernlord.com email southernlord@yahoo.com

Place Of Skulls contact web www.placeofskulls.com email placeofskulls@msn.com